Tapas: A Tool for Transformation

Following your inner voice

Do you follow the inner voice that tells you to get off the bed and onto your yoga mat? If your answer is “yes,” you are doing tapas. Luke describes tapas as actions that push us in the direction of positive change, including actions that perfect the body and senses. Tapas is part of the second limb of yoga—the niyamas (observances). It is literally “heat.” If we heed the inner voice that urges us forward, our tapas will transform us, just as fire transforms whatever goes into it.

Luke Ketterhagen
Luke Ketterhagen earned a degree from Marquette University in Biomedical Sciences, and then immersed himself in the study of yoga. He is certified by the Himalayan Institute, and specializes in hatha, meditation, diet and nutrition. Based in New York, He travels throughout the US, conducting yoga teacher training programs and weekend workshops.